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Phillies sign Abreu

The Phillies have signed outfielder Bobby Abreu to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today.

Despite not playing in the major leagues last season, Abreu batted .322 with a .416 on-base percentage, 16 extra-base hits and 28 RBI in 50 games with Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League in 2013, including a .395 average with runners in scoring position.

The 39-year-old outfielder spent parts of nine seasons with Philadelphia from 1998 to 2006, batting .303 with a .416 on-base percentage, 348 doubles, 195 home runs and 814 RBI in 1,353 games with the Phillies. He was traded to the New York Yankees as part of a six-player deal prior to the trade deadline in 2006.

A two-time All-Star (2004-05), Abreu has collected 2,437 career hits, 287 home runs, 1,349 RBI and 399 stolen bases over 17 seasons between the Houston Astros (1996-97), Phillies, Yankees (2006-08), Los Angeles Angels (2009-12) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2012). He ranks 22nd in baseball history in walks (1,456) and 23rd in doubles (565). Abreu was originally signed by the Astros as an amateur free agent in 1990 out of Aragua, Venezuela.